The World Bank has urged the Federal Government to consider imposing special taxes on alcohol, cigarettes, and sugar-sweetened beverages to improve primary healthcare.
The World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, Shubham Chaudhuri, suggested in Abuja during the special National Council on Health meeting organized by the Federal Ministry of Health on Friday.
He said, “If we want to improve healthcare in Nigeria, we need to tax the things that are killing us.
“The economic rationale for taxing these products is strong if we want to save lives and make a better and healthier Nigeria.”
Chaudhuri noted that taxes on tobacco, alcohol and sugar-sweetened beverages would reduce the health risks associated with their consumption and expand fiscal space for universal health coverage post-COVID-19.
